Re: [SG] calla lilies
- To: s*@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU
- Subject: Re: [SG] calla lilies
- From: N* S* <s*@INTERPORT.NET>
- Date: Thu, 17 Jun 1999 16:08:01 -0400
Bill: You've solved my problem. I was assuming the yellow ones I planted
were like the white ones that thrived here last year and needed constant
water--I had a plate under the drainage holes to keep them wet. Well, live
and learn. Thanks for the help.
Nancy
>>At 01:14 PM 6/17/99 -0400, you wrote:
>
>>Bill, Does it depend on the type of calla lily? I am not an expert on them,
>>but the ones I grow are in a heavy clay soil that has horrible drainage.
>>With record rain falls this year (by March we had exceeded our average
>>yearly total) the callas didn't miss a beat. I haven't really researched
>>callas but I assumed they could take wet soils. Mainly I assumed this
>>because they grow in a friends yard that becomes a lake every winter. These
>>are the big callas with the white flowers. They are hand me down plants so
>>I can't even tell you which ones they are.
>
>There are actually two kinds of callas. The genus Calla in the botanical
>sense is now limited to Calla aethiopica, which is the big white calla.
>This is in fact a plant that thrives under marshy, poorly drained
>conditions. But other callas are in the genus Zantedeschia (the yellow and
>pink callas and the hybrids) and while they like moisture, they must have
>good drainage. The yellow calla likes plenty of sun; the others (mostly
>pink and lavender) like a little shade where it's hot.
>
>Bill Shear
>Department of Biology
>Hampden-Sydney College
>Hampden-Sydney VA 23943
>(804)223-6172
>FAX (804)223-6374
>email<bills@hsc.edu>
>
>
